Low-Calorie Roast Beef, Bacon, and Mushroom Melt Recipe

We know that a sandwich loaded with delicious items can be tempting. But don't think that just because it fits between your palm and digits, it can't be that bad in the fat and calorie departments -- see Applebee's meat and mushroom melt for proof. Stick with our swap, and you'll be well fed and out of danger.

HG Alternative: Instead of cooking the mushrooms with wine and water, prepare them plain and then toss with 1/2 tbsp. light red-wine vinaigrette.

HG FYI: This recipe calls for Sargento cheese due to its impressively low sodium count. Feel free to use any reduced-fat Swiss cheese; just know that the total sodium may vary.

Applebee's Roast Beef, Bacon & Mushroom Melt

Stop Wine-ing

Don't get us wrong -- hot roast beef, crispy bacon, and gooey cheese are mighty alluring. But the first thing about this sandwich that grabbed our attention? The mushrooms sautéed in red wine. Cooking with wine can make food taste delicious. Of course it does add on some calories, but the real caloric culprit in this sandwich is the aforementioned trio of fatty ingredients: beef, bacon, and cheese. After assembling a trustworthy team of ingredients -- featuring light bread, reduced-fat cheese, and your choice of center-cut or turkey bacon -- we put together a recipe that allows us to enjoy a hearty sandwich with wine-sautéed mushrooms without placing us in a nutritional disaster zone. Sure, we like to live dangerously from time to time... just not at mealtime.

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*The PointsPlus® values for these products and/or recipes were calculated by Hungry Girl and are not an endorsement or approval of the product, recipe or its manufacturer or developer by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the PointsPlus® registered trademark.